Gymnastic apparatus



Dec. 12, 1961 G. A. WHITTAKER ETAL 3,012,778

GYMNASTIC APPARATUS Filed DeC. 5, 1960 United .States The object of this invention is to provide in a convenient form gymnastic apparatus suitable for training in the art of pole vaulting.

Gymnastic apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a socket which is adapted to receive the lower end of a vaulting pole and which is mounted so as to be pivotable in use about a horizontal axis between a position in which the socket extends in a vertical or substantially vertical direction and a position in which it is inclined to the vertical, said socket containing resilient means which is compressible by the vaulting pole when the latter is inserted into the socket.

Preferably the apparatus further includes biasing means for urging the socket towards its vertical or substantially vertical position.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a partsectional side view and FIGURES 2, and 3 respectively are a sectional end view and a plan.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a housing which is adapted to be sunk into the ground and which comprises an outer part 4a, an inner part 4b, and a hollow part 4. At its upper side the housing is closed by a lid 5 having a peripheral rim 6 adapted to rest upon the housing, and a projection 7 adapted to engage beneath a part 8 on the housing. Further, the lid 5 incorporates an angularly movable catch 9 which in the position shown engages within recesses in opposite walls of the housing to lock the lid in position. The catch 9 can be operated yby means of a suitable tool inserted through a slot 1t) in the lid 5.

Within the housing is a socket 11 in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube which is closed at its lower end by a plug 12 and at its upper end is open and adapted to receive the lower end of a vaulting pole. The socket 11 is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending through the plug 12 by means of a shaft 13 journalled at its ends in opposite walls of the part 4b of the housing respectively. Further, within the socket 11 is a coiled compression spring 14 which can be compressed by a vaulting pole inserted into the socket, whilst welded or otherwise secured to the socket is a weight 15 the centre of gravity of which lies below and to one side of the pivot axis of the socket, so that the weight serves Ito bias the socket towards a substantially vertical position in which it extends through a slot 16 in the lid 5 and rests in contact with a resilient buer 17 secured to the part 4c of the housing. Moreover pivotal movement of the socket away from the butter 17 against the action of the weight 15 is limited to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE l, in which it rests in contact with a second resilient buffer 18.

In operation, a vaulting pole is inserted into the socket 11, and the pole and socket are held by an instructor or other person so that the socket V11 lies against the buer 18. A gymnast then runs towards the apparatus and grasps the pole, the spring 14 serving to absorb part of the gymnasts approach momentum and thereby eliminate jarring. The instructor now releases the pole which moves away from the buer 18 under the combined effects of the gymnasts momentum and the weight 15 until it contacts the buffer 17. By this means the gymnast is assisted to clear the required height.

With the arrangement thus far described the lid 5 can readily be moved so that access can be gained to the interior of the housing for cleaning and maintenance purposes, and conveniently the housing incorporates a compartment in which cleaning tools are stored. However, in order that the apparatus can be locked away when not in use there is provided a further lid 19. The lid 19 includes an integral projection 20 adapted to lit within `the slot 16 in the lid 5, and on the lower surface of the projection are a pair angularly movable catches 21. In the lid 19 is formed a slot 22 which registers with the slot 10 in the lid 5, whilst secured to the lid 19 so as to extend across the slot 22 is a hinge 23 the lower leaf of which is formed with a slot registering with the slots 22,

10. Finally a hasp 24 extends upwardly from the lid 19 through slots in the leaves of the hinge 23.

In order to secure the lid 19 in position the catch 9 is tirst released and the lid 5 is removed. The lid 19 is then placed in position on the lid 5 and retained by the catches 21, whereafter the socket 11 is moved to the position shown in do-tted lines in FIGURE 1 and both lids are replaced. The upper leaf of the hinge Z3 is now folded back and the catch 9 is operated Ito lock the lids in position by means of a tool inserted through the slot in the lower leaf of the hinge and the slots 22, lil. The upper leaf of the hinge 23 is now folded into contact with the lower leaf, and a padlock 25 is inserted through the hasp 24, thereby preventing access to the catch 9.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Gymnastic apparatus comprising a socket which is adapted to receive the lower end o-f a vaulting pole and which is mounted so as to be pivotable in use about a horizontal axis between a position in which the socket extends in a vertical or substantially vertical direction and a position in which it is inclined to the vertical, said socket containing resilient means which is compressible by the vaulting pole when the latter is inserted into the socket.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein biasing means are provided for urging the socket towards its vertical or substantially vertical position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the socket is provided by a tube closed by a plug at its lower end, the pivotal axis of the tube being disposed at or adjacent to its lower end and the biasing means comprising a weight connected to the socket so as to be disposed below said pivotal axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein pivotal movement of the socket in each angular direction is limited by a resilient butler.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a housing which is adapted to be sunk into the ground, said housing having a lid on its in situ upper surface, and the arrangement being such that the socket can be disposed within the housing below the lid when the apparatus is not in use.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 and including means for locking the lid in position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,451 Sibley May 9, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 276,174 Switzerland June 30, 1951 

